Preview — Dictatorland
by Paul Kenyon

Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa

The dictator who grew so rich on his country's cocoa crop that he built a 35-storey-high basilica in the jungles of the Ivory Coast. The austere, incorruptible leader who has shut Eritrea off from the world in a permanent state of war and conscripted every adult into the armed forces. In Equatorial Guinea, the paranoid despot who thought Hitler was the saviour of Africa anThe dictator who grew so rich on his country's cocoa crop that he built a 35-storey-high basilica in the jungles of the Ivory Coast. The austere, incorruptible leader who has shut Eritrea off from the world in a permanent state of war and conscripted every adult into the armed forces. In Equatorial Guinea, the paranoid despot who thought Hitler was the saviour of Africa and waged a relentless campaign of terror against his own people. The Libyan army officer who authored a new work of political philosophy, The Green Book, and lived in a tent with a harem of female soldiers, running his country like a mafia family business.

And behind these almost incredible stories of fantastic violence and excess lie the dark secrets of Western greed and complicity, the insatiable taste for chocolate, oil, diamonds and gold that has encouraged dictators to rule with an iron hand, siphoning off their share of the action into mansions in Paris and banks in Zurich and keeping their people in dire poverty....more

Community Reviews

My knowledge of 20th Century history is spotty at best. There are things I am reasonably well-informed about but large parts of history I have cursory knowledge of. The history of Africa is one of those areas (and even typing this makes me cringe - I have to admit to not knowing a lot about a whole fricking continent) and I was very eager to remedy this. As a starting point this book is absolutely perfect. Paul Kenyon manages to give enough of an overview to situate me to then give enough detailMy knowledge of 20th Century history is spotty at best. There are things I am reasonably well-informed about but large parts of history I have cursory knowledge of. The history of Africa is one of those areas (and even typing this makes me cringe - I have to admit to not knowing a lot about a whole fricking continent) and I was very eager to remedy this. As a starting point this book is absolutely perfect. Paul Kenyon manages to give enough of an overview to situate me to then give enough details to keep my interest.

The book is a reasonably comprehensive history of several countries and manages to also connect these parts to a greater whole that gave me a greater understanding how these different dictatorships happened (or are still happening is some cases). We get a greater look into such varied countries as Zimbabwe, Congo, Libya, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea. Paul Kenyon structures his book by way of resources the countries own and how these influenced the histories. Starting with diamonds and gold, continuing with oil, talking about cocoa to then show the weird, tragic case of Eritrea where it is not even known what resources might be found there.

There are some things these countries all have in common: the way in which colonialism wrecked them, the way in which other powers influenced them (often in the way of proxy wars in the Cold War era), and the way in which power corrupted people who could were considered heroes beforehand. It is an endlessly bleak and frustrating history and one that made me think more than once how much people can suck. It is due to Paul Kenyon's wonderful storytelling sensibilities that I managed to keep reading despite the bleak subject matter.

The things that did not quite work for me are probably not fair: for one I sometimes struggled with the structure of the chapters, the timeline was not always very clear and I did not always find the thread connecting these different scenes. However, it is near impossible to tell of history in a neat narrative because history is not neat but rather messy. I would also have liked the sources to be clearer and more extensive. I work in academia and as such I am more used to academic writing which this is not.

Overall, impeccably researched, super readable, important book.

__________I received an arc of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review. ...more

In the 19th century, European countries built their empires that included countries in Africa, but by the mid-twentieth century it became time for them to get out and let them have independence. This book is an account of the disastrous behaviour of some Africans who, like scum, rose to the top of these countries, together with that of these European countries and the US. What the West wanted was to control the vast riches of gold, diamonds, copper, oil, cocoa, and whatever that Africa had, andIn the 19th century, European countries built their empires that included countries in Africa, but by the mid-twentieth century it became time for them to get out and let them have independence. This book is an account of the disastrous behaviour of some Africans who, like scum, rose to the top of these countries, together with that of these European countries and the US. What the West wanted was to control the vast riches of gold, diamonds, copper, oil, cocoa, and whatever that Africa had, and to do that they closed their eyes and helped facilitate corruption and the removal of human rights of the so-called "liberated" people on a scale that is almost unbelievable. They facilitated the return of slavery, and while it was not called that locally, it might as well have been. Political ends also required meddling. In the Congo, Lumumba was elected President in what was one of the few democratically legitimate elections. But Lumumba had talked to Moscow, so he had to be removed. The CIA assisted the rise of Mobutu, which led to the execution of Lumumba. After all, we could not have Communism in the Congo, with its big mineral resources. In São Tomé and Princípe, the West needed its cocoa; the fact the workers were essentially slaves was overlooked. The corruption of and the total ignoring of environmental issues in Nigeria and some other west coast African countries makes for awful reading. The book runs through the history of a number of countries, and how a small number of dictators, with the collusion of the West turned what could have been a paradise into a hell for the average African. A well-written well-researched history. Also a depressing history, but that was what happened....more

Kenyon paints a horrific picture of how these tyrannical leaders accumulated and exploited their countries’ vast mineral wealth be it oil, cocoa, gold or diamonds. The sheer brutality of crimes committed by successive dictators on their own citizens to ensure that their own and the western world's imperialistic/capitalistic greed remains satiated is shocking.

Kenyon makes a case that it's not just these dictators to blame for Africa what it is now, and not what it could have been, but part of the blame lies with the western world's insatiable greed for minerals, shiny objects and slaves. The backs of modern European and their offshoot civilizations are built on Africa's back, willingly and in the majority of cases, unwillingly. This comes off of an uneasy assertion, given that much of western Europe is called the land of free. But to move forward towards more peaceful times, it's quite important to accept and talk about the brutal imperialistic colonialism which was imposed on their "subjects" until the late '60s. Much of the modern angst which probably then feeds the hold of rampant religious fanaticism could be seen as a leftover rage since those times. And it's this, which power-crazy despots, misguided youths and genocidal religious leaders exploit, as the book minces no words about this.

The situation is of course, not so simple, and is indeed quite complex with shifting tribal allegiances, power struggles, capitalist greed by multinationals adding to this heady mix, but nevertheless, the two common determinants remain same - hangover of colonial lust for money/power by western European nations and post-colonial greed of despots/dictators.

For someone not acquainted with the African continent's savage history and present conditions, this book is rather a solid start.

An extraordinary book! Having struggled to find some books or resources that could sum up Africa's history and it's peoples' suffering, I came across this marvel and bought it instantly. I am extremely happy that this book is going to be part of my collection.

The author put great effort in offering most of the important events as interesting stories to read. He brought together all the dictators from the continent, their cruelties towards people, the corrupt minds, the greed, indifference towarAn extraordinary book! Having struggled to find some books or resources that could sum up Africa's history and it's peoples' suffering, I came across this marvel and bought it instantly. I am extremely happy that this book is going to be part of my collection.

The author put great effort in offering most of the important events as interesting stories to read. He brought together all the dictators from the continent, their cruelties towards people, the corrupt minds, the greed, indifference towards victims, mass killings of innocent and armies alike, slavery, and the colonial powers' exploitations of these countries, just as elsewhere, for the massive natural resources.It offers equally great insights into the decision making, priorities of the top layers of the governments, and business partnerships and investments that went into discovering diamonds, gold, cocoa and how those resources earned them high number of billions.

A few lines are just not enough in describing what this book can offer. It is a must read for anyone that is interested in knowing what went through in the past century in Africa....more

A century back, if you had to define Africa, you would describe its dusty and barren landscapes, scorching weather and hostile tribes. There was nothing that could excite. These myths and the wrong notion were broken. The Europeans were not fool. They would invest their resources simply not to colonize the nation. Africa was one of major hotspot for slavery. Now this cannot be the sole reason for the European powers to scramble for Africa. They had sensed long back about the continent’s untappedA century back, if you had to define Africa, you would describe its dusty and barren landscapes, scorching weather and hostile tribes. There was nothing that could excite. These myths and the wrong notion were broken. The Europeans were not fool. They would invest their resources simply not to colonize the nation. Africa was one of major hotspot for slavery. Now this cannot be the sole reason for the European powers to scramble for Africa. They had sensed long back about the continent’s untapped potential. During the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, the European powers divided the continent among themselves. Later, diamonds were discovered across several places like Belgian occupied Congo, Portuguese occupied Angola and British Colonies Sierra Leone and South Rhodesia (Present day Zimbabwe). The geologists were drawn towards the termite mounds on the parched and near lifeless plains of Kalahari desert. Now to build these mounds, the termites require moisture and damp clay for which they have to burrow down deep. When the particles collected by these termites were examined, it gave evidence of diamonds beneath the surface. More such traces were found in other areas too. Eventually, in one of the most sparsely populated country in Africa – Bechuanaland (Present day Botswana), dozens of diamond filled volcanoes were found.

The most demanding source of electricity was coal. It was coal that powered the steam engines in ships and trains. It also drove the electricity. There was no reason for anybody to look for an alternative. During the turn of the 19th century, the age of automobile dawned. The entire British maritime capabilities were dependent on regular and reliable supply of oil. There was nothing suitable in UK and Winston Churchill knew they would have to look elsewhere. Both US and UK looked for unchartered land for oil. The oil was already discovered in Middle East Asia but for strategic reasons, it made sense not to rely exclusively on this continent alone. For centuries, nomadic tribes crossing the Sahara desert have found curious rainbow sheen on the surface of oasis water. Portuguese sailors had observed dribbles of hot tar seeping through the rocks in Africa. Something curious was definitely lying underneath. During the mid-19th century, however oil reserves were being discovered at various places in Africa. However, the colossal oil reserve was unlocked more recently.

On the narrow belt of land ten degrees on either side of the equator, there are shades of jungle canopy, regular rain and absence of hot winds. These are rare climatic conditions which are offered by just few regions of the world. The west Africa is among them. These rare conditions allow cocoa bushes to thrive. The region became most sought after for major chocolate manufacturers of the world including Cadbury. Most of the chocolate bars consumed today are coming from cocoa bushes of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire (also known to many as Ivory Coast). The cocoa has been driving the economies for these two regions for the last 4-5 decades.

The book is not exactly about which minerals was unearth at which location. Now why then these are needed at all to be mentioned? It’s the lure of these minerals and plants that tethered western nations to the continent for long, even after their colonies gained independence. It’s the wealth that generated power post-independence. The Western nations were compelled to retreat because after World War-II, the international opinion on imperialism was changing. It was even more difficult to hold on to their colonies due to rise in nationalist movements in the 1950’s and ‘60s. Suddenly local rulers were in control of the vast minerals that were in the hand of England, France, Portugal and Belgium. The local rulers were underprepared for governance. The centuries old tribal rivalries again were exacerbated. Hostile people were thrown together to sort out their differences at the ballot box. A lot of hope and optimism was pinned on the newly elected rulers but they were seeking aggrandizement and choose to advance their own interests. These minerals either directly or indirectly were used to reward the loyal and silence their foes. The leaders clung to power with chicanery for fear of their safety. They became paranoid. A single clan or families brazenly began to dominate by dirty means. Democracy was procrastinated for indefinite period. Unfortunately, the embryonic nation never saw the dawn. The book is all about how the continent was looted on a broad daylight and how it still going on.

In Congo, idealist Patrice Lumumba was in the forefront during nationalist movement for independence from Belgium rule. He was a national hero. He became the first Prime Minister. Soon secessionist movement supported by Belgium began to gain steam. He appealed to USA and UN but in vain. He then turned to USSR for support. This led to his differences with the President Joseph Kasa-Vubu and Lumumba staunch supporter Mobutu Sese Seko. Ultimately he was imprisoned by State authorities under Mobutu and was executed. It was alleged to be USA and Belgium conspiracy. They also supported Mobutu in a coup and he was installed in power for next three decades. The Parliament was reduced to naught. He took control of the press. He formed a political party which was hurriedly joined by all politicians for their own safety. Dissidents were caught, tortured and treated mercilessly. He and his family looted the country of billions of dollars. The money resulted from national treasure was siphoned off to his Swiss, Belgian and US account.

The Zimbabwe was a British colony. One of the major contributor was white farmers who used to make significant contribution in agricultural production. The local black population passively tolerated white dominance for years till Robert Mugabe came and mobilized his people against the injustice. Robert Mugabe became the first head of the government. He also declared that white farmers were integral part of the nation. There was a new hope but in years to come, it turned into a despair. His rule is now remembered more for murder, torture, bloodshed, intimidation and persecution of political opponents. White farmers land was forcibly taken and handed over to war veterans as a compensation. The new black farm owner had no skill to manage a farm. They ended up tearing irrigation pipes to sell the lead and abandoned farm machineries. The fields reverted to wilderness. Newly unproductive farms and economic mismanagement led to spiraling of food prices. The country experienced mind blogging hyperinflation. Few became billionaires and most were at the brink of starvation.

The Nigeria was a British colony which gained its independence from the British. After independence, it’s political landscape was dominated by perpetual rise and fall of dictators. It has legacy of violent dictators. Their north, east and south factions were dominated by powerful leaders. Still they managed to elect their first president and turn themselves into a federal republic. However, there was division in army too and the nation followed the path of civil war. After each coup, a dictator was overthrown and murdered. Though the elections were held in 1993 but it was annulled and an interim government was set up. This too was overthrown by Sani Abacha. He banned all political parties and controlled the press too. He brutally suppressed all kind of dissents at home. His most brutal act was execution for treason of a writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and other activists who protested against the environmental exploitation. Despite the oil wealth, the life in Nigeria was all about starvation, poverty and murder. His family enriched themselves with huge wealth which was parked in European bank.

In Equatorial Guinea, Macias Nguema eliminated his perceived enemies in a more gruesome manner. There have been hurried mass executions. Entire village was torched to eliminate a single suspected subversive. His militias were cut loose and they would drunkenly kill people or bury them up to their neck in sand to be eaten by ants. He had killed intellectuals, government officials, members of assembly and some of his closest ministerial colleagues and supporter. He was overthrown by his nephew Obiang Nguema in a bloodless coup. Macias was later killed. Obiang ruled for more than 3 decades. As had been the case with other African nations, wealth due to huge oil reserves is concentrated in the hands of the few. Most Equatorial Guinean are living in abject poverty. There is no access to healthcare or education. Opposition is non-existent. Torture and intimidation is common in places.

It’s similar storylines in other countries too. The leader who lead the cause for independence became head of the state. The nation founding father was chosen to lead their nation towards democracy, prosperity and development. The newly acquired wealth was a big booster. However, the outcome turned something else. Though Colonel Gaddafi and Felix Houphouet-Boigny, head of Libya and Ivory Coast respectively had spend huge amount for welfare activities but nevertheless their rule was an authoritarian, one marked by gross human right violation. They ruled for decades and never allowed democracy to flourish. Gaddafi was known more for his outlandish behavior, staying with harem of women soldiers in tent and promoting global terrorism. Felix Houphouet-Boigny became so rich on his country’s cocoa crop that he built a thirty-five-storey high basilica in the jungles of the Ivory Coast

Do the Western nations have any role to play in the abysmal condition of Africa? On the surface it seems no. They are no way responsible. Drill down to the bottom and do the analysis. Behind the facade, their double standard come to the fore. Even though they relinquished controls but still some lingered on to keep a hand on Africa’s mineral wealth. During the cold war era, the ex-colonial powers stayed on citing perceived communist threat. They shamelessly channeled the profits to their nation. The multinational companies from western nations cut deal with authoritarian African rulers. These companies continue to prosper by securing mineral rights. The West ignored and tolerated continent’s most brutal dictators and the human right violations perpetuated by them, for their own vested interest. Actually, the West is directly responsible for endemic corruption and authoritarianism. Though the slave trade came to an end in the 19th century but at the back of this trade, Europeans and North Americans developed wealthy, militarily powerful and technologically advanced society. The irony is that they were treated shabbily and lakhs of people were decimated. If you have seen the movie Apocalypto, directed by Mel Gibson then recall the scene where a tribal village was raided by a group and how they were taken to a city. The reel life event was a reality. This is how slaves were treated by Western nations. Due to slavery and colonialism, the West developed at Africa’s expense. In the present scenario, the exploitation still continues in the name of development. Conditional loans are given to these African countries. Public services such as transport, water supply, sewage and health were privatized. The wealth still flows from Africa to the West in the name of debt repayments. Western corporations are still buying privatized infrastructure and the exploitation of African slaves still continues.

Colonization, nationalism, independence, mineral wealth and dictatorship are the common points that you would find in the narratives. Had the book been simply on dictatorship in Africa then other countries like Rwanda, Togo, Somalia, Liberia, Chad, Cameroon and Uganda too would have found mentions. Such is the sorry state of the continent. Sordid and shoddy deals have become the norm. The widespread shenanigans have ruined the continent. The Machiavellian and diabolic rulers are obsessed with power. Slowly and steadily the countries are falling into China’s debt trap. The most recent example is Djibouti and Zambia is expected to follow suit. The continent itself seems to have been cursed to be a slave state. That’s their predisposition and febrile symptoms refuse to leave. However, the book has been well researched and presented. The manner in which the author had collected information for his book is commendable. He has devoted few pages on his source of information. If you are reading this book, then please don’t skip this part. The wealth of the nation has been linked to dictatorship. The Eritrea conflict with Ethiopians is the only quibble. Otherwise It has been a riveting and engrossing read....more

Paul Kenyon is a renowned BBC journalist who's worked on various hard-hitting current affairs strands, not least the BBC's Panorama. He's someone whose work I've long admired. When I saw he had written a book on the dictators who've wreaked havoc throughout Africa, I was keen to read it.

Dictatorland is certainly well written and split into four parts, each corresponding to the "resource curses" which allowed brutal thugs to seize and keep power - gold, oil, chocolate and modern slavery - he trooPaul Kenyon is a renowned BBC journalist who's worked on various hard-hitting current affairs strands, not least the BBC's Panorama. He's someone whose work I've long admired. When I saw he had written a book on the dictators who've wreaked havoc throughout Africa, I was keen to read it.

Dictatorland is certainly well written and split into four parts, each corresponding to the "resource curses" which allowed brutal thugs to seize and keep power - gold, oil, chocolate and modern slavery - he troops out a succession of tyrants and their horrific idiosyncrasies for his readership to gawp at.

One of the strengths of Dictatorland is how the author demonstrates that Africa, a continent rich in natural resources, was uniquely placed for such misrule. First the colonial empires, and later those who replaced them, had untold wealth at their fingertips and thus had no need to consider the wishes, or even the needs, of the populace. The world's thirst for gold, diamonds and cocoa ensured that brutal misrule was tolerated at best, actively facilitated at worst, by the international community.

That said, there are a number of flaws to this book. While the author does give the background of colonialism and does demonstrate how the colonial rulers abused their colonies, the lion's share of the narrative focuses on the dictators that came after. I felt that the link between the two was missing somewhat. The brutalism of colonialism and how it stunted civic and political development; the arbitrary division of the continent into artificial states which often lumped hostile ethnic groups together; just how actively the Western powers turned a blind eye to the dictators' behaviour, was not fully fleshed out.

It is also unclear just how the author selected dictators to appear in the book. As The Economist pointed out in their review, some like Mobutu of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Gaddafi of Libya and Mugabe of Zimbabwe are obvious choices. But why Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the first President of Ivory Coast, and not the far more brutal Idi Amin of Uganda or Jean-Bedel Bokassa of the Central African Republic? On can only presume that Houphouët-Boigny was chosen as he based his rule on the cocoa trade.

A final issue, is that while this is a fascinating read, it can also be a little tiring. Reading of the wickedness of dictator after dictator, with no real prognosis for change, is a bit repetitive and blunts the reader's outrage. Reading Dictatorland, one might be forgiven the temptation to write Africa off as hopeless, a continent uniquely susceptible to misrule and oppression.

That all said, this is a very well written book. Despite my misgivings outlined above, it did keep me turning the page. If you're interested in dictators, what colonialism has reaped, the damaging legacy the European empires left the continent and the misrule that more often than not results when a country's rulers have untold riches at their disposal, then this is an enlightening, if depressing, read....more

I really enjoyed reading this fascinating book on African history focused on late colonial and post colonial years. Too often similar books are either too detailed requiring good background knowledge of the events described or fairly superficial barely scratching the surface of the problems explored. This book is nothing like that. It provides sufficient background information and then dwells deep into analysing the regimes of nine African countries. The writing itself is great making this bookI really enjoyed reading this fascinating book on African history focused on late colonial and post colonial years. Too often similar books are either too detailed requiring good background knowledge of the events described or fairly superficial barely scratching the surface of the problems explored. This book is nothing like that. It provides sufficient background information and then dwells deep into analysing the regimes of nine African countries. The writing itself is great making this book really difficult to put down....more

I wasn’t sure how good this would be or whether it would be a quasi-pornographic look at some of the world’s most unfortunate countries. Although Kenyon doesn’t sugarcoat how vile these regimes are, he draws out both the unique characteristics of each country, as well as what they have in common - it’s probably the clearest overview I’ve read of how catastrophic the Cold War was for many African countries. I won’t pretend to be an expert in African politics, but I’d highly recommend this for anyI wasn’t sure how good this would be or whether it would be a quasi-pornographic look at some of the world’s most unfortunate countries. Although Kenyon doesn’t sugarcoat how vile these regimes are, he draws out both the unique characteristics of each country, as well as what they have in common - it’s probably the clearest overview I’ve read of how catastrophic the Cold War was for many African countries. I won’t pretend to be an expert in African politics, but I’d highly recommend this for anyone keen to start understanding more about the 20th century history of some of its countries. ...more

A solid and well-researched tale through some of post-colonial Africa's nastiest leaders. The core strength of this book is that Kenyon has access to an excellent range of sources, including some well-place in both colonial actors and both those close to the dictators and others who were victims. Kenyon does not attempt to be exhaustive, but rather focuses his attention around the resources that made these regimes rich: oil, chocolate, diamonds, and gold, and then throws in Eritrea in addition,A solid and well-researched tale through some of post-colonial Africa's nastiest leaders. The core strength of this book is that Kenyon has access to an excellent range of sources, including some well-place in both colonial actors and both those close to the dictators and others who were victims. Kenyon does not attempt to be exhaustive, but rather focuses his attention around the resources that made these regimes rich: oil, chocolate, diamonds, and gold, and then throws in Eritrea in addition, presumably because he happens to have some great sources. The result is a complex book that doesn't point fingers: people in difficult situations can do bad things, colonial governments are rarely good but what came after some of them was worse, and rarely are the dictators themselves clearly bad people. That they became so is not in doubt, but Kenyon gives a lot of attention to how most of them came to power and their early backgrounds, which goes a long way towards bringing some complexity to the tale. This focus on the phase of gaining power is also the book's main weakness, as it tends to be almost the entire story: we hear quite a bit about how the dictators came to power but then the detail evaporates when it comes down to what they did in power. ...more

Kenyon focuses on a small number of African countries and their horrendous dictators who raped and pillaged their own land and oppressed their own people. These are the kind of regimes that trigger horror stories filled with words like tortured, maimed, hacked and slaughtered.

There is a lot of killing, torture and misery in here, but for me some of the most interesting aspects of this book were the lesser known and more obscure facts about the various dictators and their family. Such a2.5 Stars!

Kenyon focuses on a small number of African countries and their horrendous dictators who raped and pillaged their own land and oppressed their own people. These are the kind of regimes that trigger horror stories filled with words like tortured, maimed, hacked and slaughtered.

There is a lot of killing, torture and misery in here, but for me some of the most interesting aspects of this book were the lesser known and more obscure facts about the various dictators and their family. Such as the case of Saadi Gaddafi, one of Gaddafi’s sons, who was signed by a number of clubs in the Serie A in Italy (a country and league that is certainly no stranger to corruption). He was signed by Perugia (he made one appearance on the subs bench). Shortly afterwards he was banned after testing positive for Nandrolene. He was then picked up by Udinese, where he played 10 minutes and finally Sampdoria, where he never got picked at all.

We see the CIA and MI6 involved in rendition, that much beloved euphemism meaning kidnapped, in cahoots with the Libyan dictatorship. We learn about the lesser known horrors of the Equatorial Guinea dictatorship, on xmas eve in 1975, 150 opponents were taken to the national football stadium as “Those Were The Days My Friend” played over the tannoy and nooses were placed around their necks. Though why no mention of Mark Thatcher’s involvement in the attempted military coup in 2004?...That seemed a fairly major oversight.

Elsewhere we learn about the fickle nature of cocoa. Apparently it isn’t an easy crop to grow. It requires a climate that can only be found a couple of degrees either side of the equator. As he explains, “Cocoa ‘farms’ are not farms in any conventional sense. The trees aren’t arranged in neat lines. It is just wild jungle with cocoa trees positioned randomly among the rest…The trees can’t be tamed. Cocoa grows best in its natural habitat, crowded by other trees in the shade of the jungle floor. That’s why it is so labour intensive to harvest.”

This is well-researched and largely informative, but the main problem I had is that I didn’t enjoy Kenyon’s style of writing. There was a coldness that crept into it and I thought this lacked fluency and consistency, and too often it seemed to ramble and get lost in a dense, equatorial jungle all of its own. To me this read as if each country were written about years apart and then patched together later on, in order to crowbar a sense of cohesion, but it felt far from cohesive, there are too many gaps, and times when it made for tiresome reading. I learned some really interesting things, but I also struggled to enjoy it in large parts....more

Paul Kenyon provides a strong narrative which focuses on the dictatorial regimes of 7 African countries since the end of the colonial period. What sets this analysis apart from other books I've read about the region is specific chapters that look at the different natural resources that first motivated the European colonizers and later underpinned some of the worst regimes seen in the 21st century. The book moves at a brisk pace, making for an engaging and worthwhile read that covers a diverse raPaul Kenyon provides a strong narrative which focuses on the dictatorial regimes of 7 African countries since the end of the colonial period. What sets this analysis apart from other books I've read about the region is specific chapters that look at the different natural resources that first motivated the European colonizers and later underpinned some of the worst regimes seen in the 21st century. The book moves at a brisk pace, making for an engaging and worthwhile read that covers a diverse range of countries.

Kenyon begins with the Congo and proceeds through Zimbabwe, Libya, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Cost and Eritrea. While I've read about horrible political, economic and social history of Congo, Zimbabwe and Nigeria previously, the chapters on the other nations brought up significant revelations. While each country has experienced dictatorship in unique ways, numerous similarities showcase a "template" of manipulation, inter-ethnic strife, corporate creed and the value of offshore bank accounts.

It is alarming to see how many of these countries continue to suffer even after the removal of their most long serving and exploitive leaders. The shadow of Maputo still dominates the chaotic existence of the Congo. Robert Mugabe was only recently kicked out of power but violence still dominates Zimbabwe. Meanwhile those like Isaisis Afwerki continue to rule with an iron fist despite a diplomatic thaw with neighbouring Ethiopia. So much potential exists within the diverse continent of Africa, yet the area is still more well known for its failures than success stories. ...more

What a fascinating and at the same time sobering, look into several African dictatorships and how they survived and indeed thrived, thanks to western, Russian, Chinese and American backing.

Paul Kenyon focuses on a few countries including Eritrea where the leader continues to tell his people they are on a permanent war footing and a country that is less accessible than even North Korea. The rise of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe is covered and like a lot of the dictators covered in the book, their riWhat a fascinating and at the same time sobering, look into several African dictatorships and how they survived and indeed thrived, thanks to western, Russian, Chinese and American backing.

Paul Kenyon focuses on a few countries including Eritrea where the leader continues to tell his people they are on a permanent war footing and a country that is less accessible than even North Korea. The rise of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe is covered and like a lot of the dictators covered in the book, their rise to power is often a mix of luck and being in the right place at the right time.

There is a chapter on cocoa/chocolate production and a look at a particularly murky part of the Cadbury history. Oil and diamonds also feature heavily in the history of Africa as the colonial powers sought to exploit these to meet growing demands back home. Of course leaders in the states concerned such as Zaire as was made the most of this and in turn made millions for the dictator/leader and their associates.

Paul Kenyon mixes his own personal travels and interviews with people involved in the various countries covered, as well as drawing on historical sources, to produce a highly readable book, thought provoking book that leaves the reader wanting to know more about how much of Africa has been exploited by some of its own people and outsiders....more

* I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book *

British journalist Paul Kenyon delivers a compelling slice of contemporary history in Dictatorland. The book looks at the men who led African nations out of colonial exploitation, only to betray their people and enrich themselves. The post-colonial history of countries such as Zimbabwe, Congo, Libya, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea are covered, as well as the exploitation of* I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book *

British journalist Paul Kenyon delivers a compelling slice of contemporary history in Dictatorland. The book looks at the men who led African nations out of colonial exploitation, only to betray their people and enrich themselves. The post-colonial history of countries such as Zimbabwe, Congo, Libya, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea are covered, as well as the exploitation of various resources: diamonds, gold, oil, chocolate and slavery.

Kenyon's account of what these men did to their people is chilling and the sheer indifference of Western companies to the human suffering their business causes, to this very day, is horrifying. The rampant greed and savagery on display defies belief, and this is by no means in the past; it continues to this day.

If this book lacks anything, it would be the lack of a unifying theory underlying these horrible histories. Why is post-colonial Africa "Dictatorland"? Why have these savage dictators thrived in some African countries but in others, such as South Africa, similar experiences have not arisen, or at least not to the same degree. However this is still a first-rate piece of journalism and modern history, thoroughly worth the read....more

Having read Martin Meredith’s State of Africa and David van Reybrouck’s Congo I wasn’t sure whether this book would add much to my general knowledge on the continent. I was happily surprised though by how well written this book is and the point of view it takes.

Using the natural resources of the continent as a stance from which the different stories about colonialism, large multinationals, and the postcolonial dictators are being told is refreshing and insightful. The author uses a helicopter vHaving read Martin Meredith’s State of Africa and David van Reybrouck’s Congo I wasn’t sure whether this book would add much to my general knowledge on the continent. I was happily surprised though by how well written this book is and the point of view it takes.

Using the natural resources of the continent as a stance from which the different stories about colonialism, large multinationals, and the postcolonial dictators are being told is refreshing and insightful. The author uses a helicopter view of general historic political developments and zooms in on personal accounts of commoners or former puppets of regimes to enliven his story. This, in combination with an excellent writing style makes the book very worthwhile reading.

The book is not all-encompassing and isn’t trying to be. It focuses mainly on the natural resource-rich countries in the west and the -according to many- worst country in the world: Eritrea. There’s no pretense however that it describes the entire history of the continent. All in all I’m happy having read this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with an average interest in the continent of Africa....more

This is a well researched, well written and very interesting book but after a while I started to gag on the repetition of corruption, power mongering, evil, murder and exploitation.The oft repeated story of idealistic and intelligent men who fought the destruction and exploitation of colonial powers and multi-national companies, and were hailed as heroes and precipitated into power, only to end up just as bad or worse themselves, is depressing in the extreme. One wonders why that cycle is so ineThis is a well researched, well written and very interesting book but after a while I started to gag on the repetition of corruption, power mongering, evil, murder and exploitation.The oft repeated story of idealistic and intelligent men who fought the destruction and exploitation of colonial powers and multi-national companies, and were hailed as heroes and precipitated into power, only to end up just as bad or worse themselves, is depressing in the extreme. One wonders why that cycle is so inevitable - perhaps the problem is that extreme idealists, who have fought long and hard to overturn colonialism, injustice and oppression, just continue to feel they need to eliminate all subsequent opposition as well and come to believe that they, and they alone, can carry through the vision of the liberation. A depressing but worthwhile read.

Everyone interested in Africa should read this well researched, well written book about Africa post Uhuru. Kenyon gives the background to independence - he does not let off the colonial powers lightly - both for the lack of preparation for independence and for their interference afterwards. Because afterwards, the destruction of hope in so many countries that believed independence would bring benefits in terms of jobs, education and peace is widespread. The brutality of some of the leaders and tEveryone interested in Africa should read this well researched, well written book about Africa post Uhuru. Kenyon gives the background to independence - he does not let off the colonial powers lightly - both for the lack of preparation for independence and for their interference afterwards. Because afterwards, the destruction of hope in so many countries that believed independence would bring benefits in terms of jobs, education and peace is widespread. The brutality of some of the leaders and the way wealth was amassed into the hands of few families in power is just amazing to read about. And the bankers of the west helped in all this. Poor Africa....more

Men hungry for power and money. Men achieving all that power... and accumulating so much wealth that it becomes a string of unfathomable numbers in your head. What would I do if I had access to all that power and money? Will I compromise my values? Will I be a ‘dictator’? What about the people around me? How would they respond to so much power and money? What would drive someone to respond in such a way? Is it a lifelong deprivation of access to anything? These were the questions that drove my tMen hungry for power and money. Men achieving all that power... and accumulating so much wealth that it becomes a string of unfathomable numbers in your head. What would I do if I had access to all that power and money? Will I compromise my values? Will I be a ‘dictator’? What about the people around me? How would they respond to so much power and money? What would drive someone to respond in such a way? Is it a lifelong deprivation of access to anything? These were the questions that drove my thoughts as I read how each dictator came into power and behaved so predictably....more

Excellent compilation. My copy had a number of typos and grammatical errors that were grating at times, but to overlook those and focus on the substance of the story was rewarding. Even familiar tales (Mobutu, Mugabe, etc.) were enjoyable to read. I'd like to know how a reader fresh to African history would view these narratives. I feel that a base understanding may be necessary, or at least advisable.

A good overview if you don't know much/anything about post-colonial Africa and its various whacky despots. I've read a few critical reviews complaining Kenyon hasn't covered the likes of Idi Amin, but given the amount of potential material he's done a good job of mixing a broad sweep with detail about individual countries.

The sad, oftentimes downright depressing story of the plunder of a great continent by the Europeans and the generals. An essential read for anyone that knows as little as I do about Africa. The bibliography contains references for a lifetime of further learning about the continent for anyone interested.

Very accessible, unstinting description of the recent history of a handful of African nations that have had a difficult transition from colonial times to independence, and where greedy men have exploited, murdered and wreaked havoc of many kinds for too many years. I read it in a week - couldn't put it down.

By no means an in-depth look at the dictators who have ruled Africa, this was an insightful overview of some of the atrocities faced by the continent following decolonisation. Absolutely enjoyed this one - it was a real page turner.